Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 177
— Part II 172 The chiefs among his people who were arrogant said, 'Assuredly we will drive you out, O Shu‘aib, and the believers that are with you, from our town, or you shall have to return to our religion. ' He said: 'Even though we be unwilling?' (S u rah al-A‘r a f; Ch. 7: V. 89) In other words Hadrat Shu‘aib as was told: If you renounce our religion then we will not allow you to remain in our country. On hearing this, he simply said, 'Even though we be unwilling?' This pithy statement of Hadrat Shu‘aib as was the most wise and incisive reply to his opponents’ challenge. It is obvious that if one’s heart becomes averse to a particular religion, then using threats of banishment cannot bring one back into the fold. Threats can at best turn people into hypocrites, but they cannot bring about a change in their inner beliefs. People cannot be forced into a religion. The only way to entice them back (to the old religion) is by removing, through logic and reason, the causes behind their rejection. Physical force does not have the strength to change people’s beliefs. The Holy Quran also mentions other Prophets as who received similar treatment at the hands of their opponents. In each case the basic story is the same.